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Postgraduate Diploma in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies

An invaluable learning opportunity

What our Programme Offers

The Postgraduate Diploma in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies is a unique programme offered by PLAAS at the University of the Western Cape. It is the only programme in the land and agrarian studies field at a South African university. It offers:

accreditation through the Higher Education Department on National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 8;

internationally recognised lecturers with established expertise in poverty, land and agrarian studies;

critical engagement with land and related policies in Southern Africa and interventions in students’ professional contexts;

two convenient three-week teaching blocks per year; and

a relevant, respected, recognised career-enhancing qualification.

Who will Benefit

The Postgraduate Diploma in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies is designed for passionate and committed working professionals such as policymakers, planners, managers and fieldworkers. It will benefit those working in government departments, local government bodies, NGOs, non-governmental organisations, private sector companies and consultancies.

Who can Apply?

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree, with an average of 60% in the final assessment of the exit-modules in relevant courses such as Sociology, History, Economics, Political Science, Agriculture, Public Administration, Geography and/or Environmental Studies, together with at least three years’ relevant experience in the areas of poverty, land reform and sustainable natural resources management.

For those applicants without a first degree, recognition of prior learning (RPL) procedures will apply to candidates with extensive work experience (at least ten years) in land and agrarian reform, rural development, natural resources management and/or gender issues. Preference will be given to students with good English writing abilities.

How we Approach Teaching and Learning

PLAAS is an excellent platform for academic teaching and learning in land and agrarian reform, poverty and natural resources management. Established PLAAS researchers, involved in socially relevant and innovative research, are also course coordinators. The application of teaching and learning takes place through contact time with coordinators, self-learning through extensive reading and analysis, together with writing assignments.

Students are required to complete four taught modules, consisting of 30 NQF credits each. Teaching and learning takes place at PLAAS, University of the Western Cape, over two block sessions of three weeks each, from 09h00–16h00 daily. Block sessions usually take place in February/March and July/August each year. As this is the only contact time students have with the coordinators, attendance is compulsory. Should a student not attend the block sessions, he or she will forfeit the module. Various means of assessment, such as written tests, group debates, pre-contact assignments and post-contact assignments, together with structured teaching, ensure that the teaching and learning outcomes of the programme are achieved.

The Political Economy of Land and Agrarian Reform in Southern Africa

LAS713

The Economics of Farming and Food Systems

LAS714

Social and Ecological Dimensions of Ecosystems Management

Application Procedures

For those applicants who hold an undergraduate degree in relevant courses such as Sociology, History, Economics, Political Science, Agriculture, Public Administration, Geography and/or Environmental Studies, together with at least three years’ relevant experience in the areas of poverty, land reform and sustainable natural resources management. Should you qualify, please follow the procedures outlined in the PLAAS Application Procedures document.

Application Procedures for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

If you have extensive work experience (at least ten years) in land and agrarian issues, and with good writing abilities, without an undergraduate degree, you may apply to be considered on the basis of recognition of prior learning (RPL). Should you qualify under this, please follow the procedures outlined in the PLAAS RPL Application Procedures document.